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[on:]

Hi,
I am new to arduino usage and was thinking of building a Home automation project. I wanted to know if it is possible to use the serial port in linksys router ( after hacking it to give one) to give control information to the arduino.

I basically wish to connect the system to a tablet wirelessly and the tablet will have an app to control the house automation rules.
This will get passed on to a linksys router( cheap and easy to hack) whihc can send the information to arduino and arduino can control using the RF modules(434hz) to operate the elecricla systems in the house.
If you could guide me to any suitable links or could contribute to this idea would be glad to hear form you. 

[Reply #1 on:]

Hi,
I am new to arduino usage and was thinking of building a Home automation project. I wanted to know if it is possible to use the serial port in linksys router ( after hacking it to give one) to give control information to the arduino.

I basically wish to connect the system to a tablet wirelessly and the tablet will have an app to control the house automation rules.
This will get passed on to a linksys router( cheap and easy to hack) whihc can send the information to arduino and arduino can control using the RF modules(434hz) to operate the elecricla systems in the house.
If you could guide me to any suitable links or could contribute to this idea would be glad to hear form you. 

Forgot how to use google, I see...

http://www.arduino.cc/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1263790595
http://www.arduino.cc/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1255711730
http://www.rwhitby.net/projects/wrt54gs
http://blog.thelifeofkenneth.com/2010/09/hacking-wrt54gl-serial-port.html
http://www.andrewhazelden.com/blog/2010/01/how-to-use-the-serial-ports-on-a-linksys-wrt54gs-with-dd-wrt-v24/
http://www.lecad.fs.uni-lj.si/~leon/other/wlan/wrt54ow/index.html

Note that not all of these deal with using the WRT54G and Arduino exclusively; furthermore, not all deal with bi-directional communication. That said, some do, and give details. The main issue is level conversion, of course, between the Arduino's 5 volt logic levels and the WRT54G 3.3 volt logic levels. There are solutions available, though, and they should be detailed among the various links above. So - read them all carefully, and make absolute sure of your levels in both directions before hooking things up completely (otherwise, you risk damage to the Arduino and/or the router).

Good luck - hope this helps (and you might do a bit more googling on the subject as well).

[Reply #2 on:]

With ethernet shields available now for $12.28 shipped, I'd skip modifying a router.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Ethernet-Shield-W5100-For-Arduino-328-UNO-mega-1280-2560-/180911603176?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a1f2bfde8

[Reply #3 on:]

With ethernet shields available now for $12.28 shipped, I'd skip modifying a router.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Ethernet-Shield-W5100-For-Arduino-328-UNO-mega-1280-2560-/180911603176?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a1f2bfde8

The thing about using a router, though, is that you gain much more capabilities - more memory, more speed, etc; with the right router (actually, the wireless hard drive docking stations with USB port are the best, from what I can tell - but even the old-school bog-standard WRT54G isn't bad) you can easily have the processing power and memory equivalent of a 486; drop an SD adapter on it, and you're really set.

Granted, it isn't for everyone, and it is easy to brick the router - if all you need is data transfer over wifi or ethernet, probably not worth it (though wifi shields, etc still aren't as cheap as an old router) - but if you wanted to make an interactive (but simple) browser gui front end with an integrated IP camera, etc to control the Arduino - it can be an attractive option, if you're willing to take the time to do it.

[Reply #4 on:]

I am using a wrt54g v2 connected to a custom Atmega328 board for my BBQ controller.  I can both recieve info on the internet and change tempetures from my computer or phone.   Using a router like what the above poster has said it is more versitile and cheaper if you have a old wrt54g laying around.   

But, there is a new route that is even better then using a router that is being worked on and thats using a Rasberry PI connected to the Arduino and then using a very small usb wifi adapter. 

[Reply #5 on:]

With ethernet shields available now for $12.28 shipped, I'd skip modifying a router.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Ethernet-Shield-W5100-For-Arduino-328-UNO-mega-1280-2560-/180911603176?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a1f2bfde8

I wouln't use these cheap hong kong boards..

[Reply #6 on:]

personally i'd go with the ethernet sheild.  Hacking those routers is kind of a pain in the ass.  Well at least in my case because i installed a LAMP stack on it.  I wanted a mysql server connected to arduino.

But if i had to do it again I'd use a raspberry PI with wireless connected to arduino.  Much smaller device, real linux packages and wrt54gs are getting harder to find and more expensive these days.
anyway heres a couple forum links from when i was fiddling with a ddwrt router.
http://arduino.cc/forum/index.php/topic,56686.msg409495.html#msg409495
http://arduino.cc/forum/index.php/topic,60823.msg439247.html#msg439247